BBC's Project Canvas given go-ahead, launches 2011

The last major obstacle blocking internet TV from rolling out across Britain has been cleared. The BBC Trust has given Project Canvas the green light, meaning that we could see a service launched as soon as spring 2011. The Trust provisionally offered its approval back in December 2009, but the final decision has now been published.

Project Canvas is an attempt by the UK's terrestrial broadcasters, the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and Five, along with communications companies Arqiva, TalkTalk and BT, to create an open, internet-connected on-demand television platform built on common standards. The idea is to have a TV interface functionality that's also able to tie in to web content, allowing users to share and discuss whatever's being broadcast, and also allowing other applications to interact with it too.

But with the approval comes a string of conditions. It has to be possible to access content through the service without paying a subscription, though users may be charged for additional pay services that could add, for example, video-on-demand capabilities, broadband access or other features.

Any BBC spending on the project that benefits partners in the project has to be shared out equally so as to not break the EU's state aid rules. Finally, the BBC's been told that it must engage with the rest of the industry over the technical specifications of the platform, which must be published within 20 days.

If all that's met, and the project doesn't go more than 20 percent over its budget (which has also been prohibited by the BBC Trust), then Project Canvas is expected to launch in the early part of 2011.

Of course, it won't be called Project Canvas. It'll be renamed and given more of a brand identity. The current favourite name is apparently "YouView", but I'm crossing every finger within a five-mile radius that someone with a bit of charisma steps in and suggests something a little more inspired, because YouView is terrible. If you have any good suggestions, leave them in the comments below.

Rival broadcasters Virgin Media and BSkyB are, predictably, unhappy about the approval. Both companies have entered the battle against Canvas, saying that public money shouldn't be spent on a commercial project that's likely to become the standard for TV over broadband. Of course, given that both companies rely on trying to get customers to pay for the same service that Project Canvas will enable for free (albeit with fewer channels), it's not surprising that they're opposed to it.

Virgin Media's CEO, Neil Berkett, told the European Union: "The BBC Trust's consultation has been a shameless whitewash that contravenes almost every principle of good regulation. He adds: "The BBC Trust has stubbornly ignored all requests to address our concerns by imposing safeguards to prevent the BBC emerging as de facto gatekeeper of the digital world."

A spokesperson for BSkyB said: "The BBC's involvement in Canvas is an unnecessary use of public funds. The BBC Trust's announcement is a predictable decision from a body that has shown little inclination to think independently or set meaningful boundaries on the BBC's activities."

However, neither statement made much impression on the Office of Fair Trading, which cleared Project Canvas earlier in the year. So, with any luck, by this time next year we might well be enjoying our TV content on the web, delivered through yet another set-top box. Best start making some space in your AV cabinet now.